China's industry ministry has announced a 6-month campaign to clean up what
it says are serious problems with internet apps violating consumer rights,
cyber security and "disturbing market order."
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in an online notice
that, among other things, companies must fix pop-ups on apps that deceive
and mislead users or force them to use services they might not want.
The order is part of a wider effort to crack down on tech industries and
police use of personal information. Authorities have ordered fines and other
penalties for some of China's biggest tech companies.
This latest campaign was launched with a teleconference call Friday, the
ministry said. On Sunday, it issued its 15th list of dozens of apps it has
said require fixing.
Among 22 specific scenarios it said required "rectification," the ministry
cited pop-up windows as a specific problem, especially situations where the
entire screen of a pop-up window is a jump link with a false close button.
Other problems it pointed to were malicious blocking of website links and
interference with other companies' products or services; threats to data
security, due to a failure to encrypt sensitive information while it is
being transmitted, and failure to obtain users' consent before providing
data to other parties.
It also took aim at illicit broadband networks, which it called "black
broadband" that failed to conform to website filing procedures or might be
subletting or using illegal access to networks.
The regulators have been stepping up enforcement of anti-monopoly, data
security, financial and other rules against scores of tech companies that
dominate entertainment, retail and other industries.
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